UK plans legislation to block explicit images on children’s smartphones
The government says Apple and Google have failed to reach agreement on protections for under-18s, leaving the final technology and legal framework unresolved.
The UK government plans to introduce legislation requiring Apple and Google to block under-18s from taking, viewing or sharing nude images on smartphones, after talks with the companies missed a three-month deadline.
Digital secretary Lisa Nandy told the House of Commons that ministers would begin work on an act of parliament, while leaving open the possibility of a late agreement with the technology companies before legislation is enacted.
The proposed protections would be built into devices and switched on by default. Adults would be required to verify their age before accessing or disabling some features. The government also wants restrictions to cover apps used by children, which would require further legislation.
The measures are intended partly to reduce self-generated child sexual abuse material associated with grooming or coercion. The Internet Watch Foundation said such material accounted for more than 140,000 items, or a quarter of the child sexual abuse material it recorded last year.
The proposal raises privacy and access-to-information concerns. One possible approach is client-side scanning, in which content is analysed on a device before encryption or transmission. The final technical design, enforcement powers and implementation timetable have not been settled.
Google said it remained committed to working with policymakers while protecting privacy and access to information. Apple said it was preparing stronger communication-safety tools, which warn children when they receive or send nude images and videos. The proposed measures have not yet been introduced or passed into law.
